Chapter title: The Incidence and Correlates of Mental Health in the Arabian Gulf Countries
Author: Samir Al-Adawi, Ph.D.
Affiliation: College of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Author: Lara Hamood Al-Harthi, M.Sc.
Affiliation: Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Author: Maithili Santosh Shetty, M.Sc.
Affiliation: Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Author: Joe Valentina Valanarasu, B.Sc.
Affiliation: Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Author: Muna Ahmed Al-Saadoon, M.D., Ph.D.
Affiliation: College of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Author: Nasser Al-Sibani, Ph.D.
Affiliation: College of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Author Biographies:
Dr. Samir Al-Adawi has been a professor of Behavioral Medicine at the College of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University since May 2010. Previously, he was a Fulbright Senior Scholar, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA and a research scientist sponsored by Matsumae International Foundation at the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Al-Adawi has done his undergraduate training in Cairo, Egypt and the University of Surrey, UK. His doctorate training was at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College, UK. Dr. Al Adawi has a research interest in the interplay between the idiom of distress and the epidemiology of cognitive and psychological disorders.
Lara Al-Harthi is a psychologist with a master’s degree in forensic psychology and mental health from the University of Manchester. She has over five years of professional experience and training in her field and has recognized her passion for research and helping others. She is currently working as a psychologist in Al-Massara Hospital (AMH) Muscat, Oman, the only government hospital in Oman solely dedicated to providing psychiatric services in the country. She has also co-authored several research articles in the field of mental health and psychopathology, under the umbrella of the Behavioural Medicine Department in Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH).
Maithili Santosh Shetty completed her Master’s in the foundation of Clinical Psychology And Mental Health from the University Of Sussex in 2019, after completing her BSc. Clinical Psychology from Amity University Mumbai. She worked as an intern, in a hospital and two institutional setups during her bachelor’s. She worked on a research project involving the application of Behavioural Strategies such as WOOP Intervention to determine the effectiveness of Mindfulness practices and enhancement of psychological well-being. This project was conducted in collaboration with Sussex Partnership Foundation and Mindfulness Centre and was completed as a part of her dissertation.
She aims to pursue her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D) and intends to serve the community by dwelling deep into the psychopathologies and offering therapeutic remedies as a Clinical Psychologist.
Joe Valentina Valanarasu is a graduate student from Christ (Deemed to be University), Bangalore. As a psychology student, she has had the experience of working as a trainee psychologist in both India and Oman. She also has a particular interest in volunteering in settings that provide support for adolescents and young adults suffering from past trauma and abuse.
She has always been intrigued by the factors behind the workings of human behaviour since her introduction to the field and is particularly interested in the study of criminal behaviour. She also has an interest in the research areas of victimology and offender rehabilitation.
Currently, she is looking forward to joining the University of Bath for her postgraduation in MSc. Applied Forensic Psychology with Counselling.
Dr. Muna Ahmed Al-Saadoon holds an MD degree from the Sultan Qaboos University, Oman and a Ph.D. in Community Paediatrics from Nottingham University, UK.
Member of the State Council; the Dean of College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman; Chairperson of the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital Board, and is an Associate Professor of Child Health and Consultant Paediatrics at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital.
Member of the Executive Board of Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB); The National Bioethics Committee (2009 to 2020); Ministry of Health, Child Protection Task Force (2006 to 2019); and Ministry of Social Development, Muscat Region Child Protection Committee (2012 to date).
Dr. Al-Saadoon has considerable experience in the area of child protection and child right and focused her efforts throughout her career in these areas. She has been involved in many activities to increase public and professionals’ awareness of child abuse, and the need for child protection services, in coordination with both the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Development, viz., Member of the Child Protection Task Force. Member in national and Regional Societies, viz., Arab Association to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect; International Society to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN). Her research interests include child abuse and neglect, and child protection.
Dr. Nasser Al-Sibani, who is currently an Asst. Professor/Sr. consultant psychiatrist and head of Behavioral medicine at Sultan Qaboos University- College of medicine -Oman, received his Medical Education at Sultan Qaboos University- Oman and completed his Residency Training in psychiatry at Alberta University- Edmonton; AB – Canada. He later received a fellowship in psychotherapy from Alberta University. He assumed several leadership positions including chairman of psychiatry residency training program under the auspices of Oman medical specialty board (OMSB), Chairman of task force committee to improve mental health in Oman at a national level. He is also chairing the national Forensic psychiatry committees. Dr. Al-Sibani is an active member of several professional societies and organizations and has an interest in psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and cultural issues of mental health.
